Pin-type electrical connector



July 12, 1966 c. R 1: s ET AL 3,260,985

PIN-TYPE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed March 10, 1964 FIG. SD

M 9W W 7 United States Patent 59 Claims. (Cl. 339-97) This inventionrelates to a quick wiring electrical connector plug wherein anassociated cable is connected to the contacts of the connector withoutthe use of tools by a spike on the contact penetrating the cable.

It is known to provide electrical connectors having insulating piercingspikes such connectors enabling electrical connection to cables withoutthe use of tools. Such devices applied to plug connectors have beenunduly complex or have multilated the conductors or have been such thatthe spikes have not been locked into the electrically connectedposition. Further, prior devices of the type have been bulky andexpensive to produce.

Many quick wiring plug caps exist where it is possible to gain access tothe interior and thus exposing live metal contacts after being insertedin a receptacle.

It is an object of this invention to provide a quick wiring electricalconnector plug having a minimum number of elements.

It is a further object of this invention to provide .a quick wiringelectrical connector plug wherein electrical connections once made arelocked into substantially permanent condition.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a quick wiringelectrical connection of easy manufacture and of low cost.

A still further object of the invention is to prevent access to livemetal parts by the unintentional removal of the plasticbody of a plugcap embodying the invention after it has been inserted in a receptacle.

The invention consists of a quick wiring electrical connector plug forapplication to a cable without the use of tools, comprising: a bodymember moulded in a slightly resilient plastic,said body member having ablade-receiving opening at one end and walls defining a four-sidedinterior, at least one of the sides of said interior having a pivotrecess and at least one adjacent side of said interior having lower andupper contact receiving recesses, a cable receiving aperture, at leastone contact member having depending therefrom, firstly, a blade,secondly, a pivot, thirdly, a projection and fourth-1y, an insulationpiercing spike, said pivot received in said pivot recess in said bodymember, said projection being received in said lower contact receivingrecess and adapted to deform said body member upon rotation of saidcontact about said pivot whereupon said projection transfers from saidlower recess to said upper recess simultaneously with said spikepiercing said cable, said body member returning to an undeformedposition whereby said projection is retained in said upper recess.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by referenceto the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a quick wiring plug and a twin-conductorcable fitted to the plug.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a pair of contacts for use with the plugshown in FIG. 1, the contacts each having the respective position takenafter assembly into body member.

\ FIG. 3 Ba sectional side view of the plug taken along Smith & StoneLimited, Toronto,

3,260,985 Patented July 12, 1966 "ice the line 3-3 in FIG. 1 but withthe contact blades in a closed position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view of the plug taken along the line 44 inFIG. 3.

FIG. 5a is a sectional view of the plug taken along the line 5-5 in FIG.3 but with the blades spread apart.

FIG. 5b is a similar sectional side view to FIG. 5a but with the bladesin final and parallel relationship and with a portion of the cableshown.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a hollow body 1 having an aperture 2for receiving a flat-twin cable 3, and which further supports a pair ofblade contacts 4. The body has a blade receiving opening on theunderside.

The internal configuration of the 'body is seen best in FIGS. 4, 5a and5b. The body has end walls 5 and 6 and side walls 7 and 8, and a top 9from which an anvil 10 projects downwardly therefrom. The side walls 7and 8 have vertical ribs 11 projecting inwardly therefrom, each rib 11having a convergent lower end 12. One end wall 5 of the body 1 has acable entrance 2 formed therein. The end walls 6 and 5 include recesses13 and 14 respectively therein, and the recesses 13 and 14 are disposedat diametrically opposed positions about the vertical centreline of thebody as best seen in FIG. 4 and are shown dotted in that figure. Afurther and relatively more shallow recess 15 extends from below therecess 13 along the end wall 6 towards the side wall 7 and along theside wall 7 until the recess 15 meets a rib 11. A similar recess 16extends from below the recess 14 along the end wall 5 towards the sidewall 8 and along the side wall 8 until the recess meets the other rib11.

Side wall 8 includes a lower contact receiving recess 17 whichsubstantially abuts one side of an associated rib 11, and an uppercontact receiving recess 18 abutting the same side of associated rib 11.Side wall 7 includes a lower contact receiving recess 19 and uppercontact receiving recess 20 wherein recesses 19 and 20 are located atdiametrically opposed positions, in relation to the vertical plane ofsymmetry of FIG. 4, to those of recesses 17 and 18. The body is formedof a slightly resilient moulda'ble plastic having good electricalinsulating properties.

Referring to FIG. 2, the contacts 4, 4 have identical configurationexcept that one of the contacts is, as shown, a diametrically oppositereplica of the other contact.

The contacts comprise a contact blade 20 the upper end of which has afirst portion outwardly bent to form a pivot 21. The upper end of thecontact has a second portion inwardly bent to form an inclined extension22. Integrally attached to the said extension 22 is a cross-piece 23which, prior to the operation of fitting the plug to a cable, isinclined slightly outwardly of the plane of the extensions 20. One endof the cross-piece converges slightly to form a blade locatingprojection 25 and an insulation piercing spike 26 extends upwardly fromthe top edge of the cross-piece. The contacts are formed from anysuitable contact material such as brass, or copper.

The contacts are initially assembled into the body, firstly, by locatingthe pivot 21 of one contact into recess 13 and the pivot 21 of the othercontact into recess 14, and secondly, by forcing respective bladelocating projections 25 into associated lower recesses 17 and 19, asshown in FIG. 5a.

In operation, the cable 3 is threaded into aperture 2 as shown in FIG.5b and the two blades 20 squeezed together. The blades then pivot aboutpivots 21 located in respective recesses 13 and 14. During this pivotingmotion, projections 25 force an escape from the respective lowerrecesses 17 and 19 by outwardly deforming the slightly resilient body 1and thereafter enter the upper respective recesses 18 and 20 whereafterthe body returns inwardly to the underformed condition whereby the upperrecesses 18 and 20 retain the contacts in this final position. Duringthe pivoting motion of the contacts 4, two operations are carried out.Firstly, cross-pieces 23 are thrust against the ribs 11 Where the ribs11 bend the portions 22 of the contacts 4 gradually, as the blades cometogether, until the cross-pieces 23 lie in parallel relationship andabut the ribs 11. Secondly, the spikes 26 are forced upwardly andthrough the insulation of the cable, whose upward movement is inhibitedby the anvil 10, whereby one of said pair of contacts 4 is electricallyconnected with one of the wires in the said cable, and the other of saidcontacts 4 is electrically connected with the other of the wires in thesaid cable.

It is obvious that a single contact may be used with a single corecable. It is also possible to have two entrances 2 so that the devicemay be used as a line tap connector.

The anvil may be dispensed with in certain circum-- stances, in whichcase, the top 9 may be of sufficient thickness to maintain the cablefirm before and after the spikes have penetrated the cable. In theembodiment illustrated hereinbefore, the quick-wiring connector has beenapplied to a standard plug, but the blades 20 may be replaced by othercontact members, terminals or lugs without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. The blade pivot means 13 and 14 have been shown asrecesses but the pivot means could comprise a horizontally disposedsemi-cylinder formed on the interior of the walls 5 and 6 and thecontacts provided with associated concave recesses to pivot on thesemi-cylinder formations.

We claim:

1. A quick wiring electrical connector for application to a cablewithout the use of tools, comprising:

(i) a body member molded in a slightly resilient plastic; said bodymember including;

(a) a blade receiving opening at one end,

(b) walls defining a four-sided interior, at least one of said sides ofsaid interior having blade pivot means, at least one adjacent side ofsaid interior having lower and upper contact locating means, saidinterior having a top disposed opposite to said one end, and,

(c) a cable receiving aperture,

(ii) at least one contact member having depending therefrom;

(d) a blade, rotatably received in said body by said blade pivot means,

(e) a blade locating projection for alternate cooperation with saidlower and upper contact locating means, and,

(f) an insulation piercing spike, said spike being adapted to penetratesaid cable when said blade locating projection cooperates with saidupper contact locating means said contact member being pivotal aboutsaid blade pivot means from a first position in which the blade locatingprojection cooperates with said lower contact locating means so that acable is insertable in said cable receiving aperture to a secondposition in which the blade locating projection cooperates with saidupper contact locating means so that said insulation piercing spikecontacts said cable to make electrical contact therewith and saidcontact member is substantially restrained from random movement.

2. A quick wiring electrical connector for application to a cablewithout the use of tools, comprising;

(i) a body member molded in slightly resilient plastic, said body memberhaving;

(a) a blade receiving opening at one end,

(b) walls defining a four-sided interior, at least one of said sides ofsaid interior having a pivot recess formed therein and at least oneadjacent side of said interior having lower and upper contact receivingrecesses therein, said interior having a top disposed opposite to saidone end, and,

- to a two conductor (c) a cable receiving aperture,

(ii) at least one contact member having depending therefrom;

(d) a blade, rotatably received in said pivot re cess,

(e) a blade locating projection for alternate cooperation with saidlower and upper contact 10- cating means, and,

(f) an insulation piercing spike, said spike being adapted to penetratesaid cable when said blade locating projection cooperates with saidupper contact locating means said contact member being pivotal aboutsaid blade pivot means from a first position in which the blade locatingprojection cooperates with said lower contact locating means so that acable is insertable in said cable receiving aperture to a secondposition in which the blade locating projection cooperates with saidupper contact locating means so that said insulation piercing spikepenetrates said cable to make electrical connection therewith and saidcontact member is substantially restrained from random movement.

3. A quick wiring electrical connector for application to a cablewithout the use of tools, comprising:

(i) a body member molded in a slightly resilient plastic, said bodymember having;

(a) a blade receiving opening at one end,

(b) walls defining a four-sided interior, at least one of said sides ofsaid interior having a pivot recess and at least one adjacent side ofsaid interior having lower and upper contact receiving recesses therein,said interior having a top disposed oposite to said one end, and,

( c) a cable neceiuing aperture,

(ii) at least one contact member having depending therefrom,

(d) ablade,

(e) a pivot, said pivot being received in said pivot recess,

(f) a blade locating projection for reception in and transfer betweensaid lower and upper contact receiving recesses, and

(g) an insulation piercing spike, said spike being adapted to penetratesaid cable when said blade locating projection cooperates with saidupper contact locating means said contact member being pivotal aboutsaid blade pivot means from a first position in which the blade locatingprojection cooperates with said lower contact 10- cating means so that acable is insertable in said cable receiving aperture to a secondposition in which the blade locating projection cooperates with saidupper contact locating means so that said insulating piercing spikepenetrates said cable to make electrical connection therewith and saidcontact member is substantially restrained from random movement.

4. The connector in claim 3 wherein said body member includes a rib onone of said adjacent walls, said rib being adapted to slightly bend saidcontact when said contact is pivoted about said pivot during transferfrom said lower recess to said upper recess.

5. A quick wiring electrical connector for application cable without theuse of tools, comprising:

i) a body member molded in a slightly resilient plastic, said bodymember including;

(a) an opening in one end of contact blades,

(b) walls defining a four-sided interior, an opposed pair of sides ofsaid interior having blade pivot recesses therein, said recesses beingdiametrically disposed about a vertical plane of symmetry of said body,a pair of adjacent sides,

for receiving a pair each adjacent side having, firstly, lower and uppercontact locating recesses therein, the said locating recesses in one ofsaid adjacent sides being diametrically disposed, about said plane ofsymmetry, to said locating recesses in the other of said adjacent sides,said pair of adjacent sides each having, secondly, a rib formed thereon,said interior having a top disposed opposite to said one end, aninwardly directed anvil formed on said top, and,

(c) a cable receiving aperture located in one of said sides,

(ii) a pair of contact members, each having depending therefrom;

(d) a blade,

(e) a pivot, the pivot on one member being pivotally received in saidrecess in one of said pair of opposed sides, the pivot on the othermember being pivotally received in said recess in the other of said pairof opposed sides,

(f) a blade locating projection, the projection on one member beingadapted for reception and transfer between said lower and upper contactreceiving recesses in one of said pair of adjacent sides, the projectionon the other member being adapted for reception and transfer betweensaid lower and upper contact receiving recesses in the other of saidpair of adjacent sides, said rib serving to position the projection onsaid one member and said other member in their respective upper contactreceiving recesses when said contact members are pivoted about theirrespective blade pivot means from a first position in which the bladelocating projections cooperate with their respective lower contactlocating means so that a cable is insertable in said cable receivingaperture to a second position in which the blade locating projectionscooperate with their respective upper contact 10- cating means, saidprojections resiliently deforming said body on transferring fromassociated lower and upper recesses, the body in its undeformedcondition serving to substantially retain said members from randommovement, and,

(g) an insulation piercing spike, the spike on one member being alignedwith one conductor of said two conductor cables, the spike on the othermember being aligned with the other of said conductors, said spike oneach of said members being adapted to penetrate the insulation of saidcable and electrically contact their associated conductor when saidrespective blade locating projections cooperate with associated uppercontact locating recesses.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,012,627 8/1935Gilbert a 339-97 2,593,743 4/1952 Galvao 339-97 2,682,647 6/1954 Smith339-99 2,769,154 10/1956 Greenbaum 339-99 2,810,894 10/1957 Kerr 33999PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner.

W. DONALD MILLER, Examiner.

1. A QUICK WIRING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOF APPLICATION TO A CABLEWITHOUT THE USE OF TOOLS, COMPRISING; (I) A BODY MEMBER MOLDED IN ASLIGHTLY RESILIENT PLASTIC; SAID BODY MEMBER INCLUDING: (A) A BLADERECEIVING OPENING AT ONE END, (B) WALLS DEFINING A FOUR-SIDED INTERIOR,AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SIDES INTERIOR HAVING BLADE PIVOT MEANS, AT LEASTONE ADJACENT SIDE OF SAID INTERIOR HAVING LOWER AND UPPER CONTACTLOCATING MEANS, SAID INTERIOR HAVING A TOP DISPOSED OPPOSITE TO SAID ONEEND, AND, (C) A CABLE RECEIVING APERTURE, (II) AT LEAST ONE CONTACTMEMBER HAVING DEPENDING THEREFROM; (D) A BLADE, ROTATABLY RECEIVED INSAID BODY BY SAID BLADE PIVOT MEANS, (E) A BLADE LOCATING PROJECTION FORALTENATE COOPERATION WITH SAID LOWER AND UPPER CONTACT LO CATING MEANS,AND, (F) AN INSULATING PIERCING SPIKE, SAID PLATE BEING ADAPTED TOPENETRATE SAID CABLE WHEN SAID BLADE LOCATING PROJECTION COOPERATES WITHSAID UPPER CONTACT LOCATNG MEANS SAID CONTACT MEMBER BEING PIVOTAL ABOUTSAID BLADE PIVOT MEANS FROM A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH THE BLADE LOCATINGPROJECTION COOPERATES WITH SAID LOWER CONTACT LOCATING MEANS SO THAT ACABLE IS INSERTABLE IN SAID CABLE RECEIVING APERTURE TO A SECONDPOSITION IN WHICH THE BLADE LOCATING PROJECTION COOPERATES WITH SAIDUPPER CONTACT LOCATING MEANS SO THAT SAID INSULATING PIERCING SPIKECONTACTS SAID CABLE TO MAKE ELECTRICAL CONTACT THEREWITH AND SAIDCONTACT MEMBER IS SUBSTANTIALLY RESTRAINED FROM RANDOM MOVEMENT.